Marine renewables in Atlantic France: the GE factory is picking up the pace

GE Renewable Energy established its offshore wind business headquarters and engineering office in Atlantic France, close to the plant dedicated to marine renewables built in Montoir-de-Bretagne in 2015. In recent months, this factory has increased its production rate, in particular for the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm which will be in service by 2022.

80 wind turbines (Haliade 150-6MW) will soon be installed off the coast of La Baule, Atlantic France. The turbine nacelles and the generators are assembled in the GE factory located in Montoir-de-Bretagne, near Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port. The first nacelle left the factory last September and the production rate has been accelerating.

The first French offshore wind farm in operation in 2022

In parallel, the hubs and the blades of the offshore wind turbines built in Spain have begun to arrive in the port, and the Chantiers de l’Atlantique are currently building the electrical substation. The Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm will be the first in France and will gradually be put into use throughout 2022. The energy produced will allow up to 400,000 homes to be powered!

Expanding the factory for the giant Haliade-X 12MW

The GE factory in Montoir-de-Bretagne will probably have an order book filled for several years, in particular with the production of the world’s most powerful wind turbine. The Haliade-X 12 MW recently obtained a full type certificate and 500 wind turbines could be ordered for wind farms in the UK and the USA.

To meet this demand, GE is investing €60 million to expand the factory by 10,000 sqm in order to reach a total of 26,000 sqm. The plant’s workforce has increased from 350 to 400 people, and will continue to grow to reach 500 people in 2022.